Joan (Reed) Dodson

Joan (Reed) Dodson passed into the Lords Hands on Sunday, January 13th, at her home in Atascadero, California, from complications of her cancer treatments from years past. She was 66 years old.

The memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Feb 9th at 11:00am, at Atascadero Gospel Chapel.

Joan was the daughter of Edward H. Reed and Louise Smith Reed along with her twin brother Peter T. Reed and older brothers Donald R. Reed and Edward H. Reed Jr.

She was raised on the bay, in Newport Beach, California, by her father ‘Ted’ and stepmother Claire Reed. Joan was a competitive swimmer at Newport Harbor Union High School and Orange Coast College. She finished her undergraduate work at San Diego University. She became a swim instructor for 18 years, teaching babies and senior citizens as well as handicapped and persons of all ages her love for the water. In 1965 she married Paul Powell and had two wonderful sons, Stephen and David. After her boys went off to college she became a Certified Nurse Assistant.

She married Jerold Dodson in 1997, and they were very active in the ‘Rustlers’ Square Dance group in Orange County. After moving to Atascadero she became very active at Twin Cities Hospital as a volunteer with the Chaplain program. Most recently Joan was the Regent of the El Paso de Robles chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She is survived by her twin brother Peter Reed and his wife Susan, and their children Christina and Robert; and by her loving sons Stephen, his wife Liza and daughter Nastassia, and by son David and his wife Nicole, and their children Alyssa and Hazen, and by her devoted husband Walter ‘Jerold’ Dodson.

Joan was proceeded in death by her parents Edward Reed and Louise Smith, and her eldest brothers Donald and Edward Jr.

We will miss her strong positive attitude, bright smile, and love of people. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the El Paso de Robles DAR, contact Virginia Johnson at 805-434-1779.